A project by Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre has won the top Premier’s Recognition Award in the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2013 for introducing recycling to a community housing estate. The Ascot Vale Housing Estate Household Recycling project defied previous failed attempts to introduce recycling and established a successful, ground-breaking model using targeted and broad-ranging community engagement of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and lower Socio Economic Status (SES) groups.

The project won the Community category of the awards and then went on to win the night’s overall award. […]

Sustainability Victoria CEO, Stan Krpan, congratulated the Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre project team for their innovative work which delivered recycling to estate’s residents, of whom 55 per cent were born overseas. “A key initiative of this project was the focus on engaging residents from many cultural backgrounds with varying competency in English, in the importance of recycling,” he said. In its first six months, 52 tonnes of recyclables were recovered. Three of the 11 residents who worked on the project secured jobs as a result of their experience.

Now in their eleventh year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards celebrate efficient use of water, resources and energy, better waste management and recycling practices, the enhancement of the environment and effective, practical community action. The full list of winners of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2013 are:

• The Premier’s Recognition Award – Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre, taking recycling to public housing residents • The Premier’s Regional Recognition Award – Victoria Carpets, for their work in energy and emissions reduction in their Bendigo plant • Innovative Products or Services Award – ModWood Technologies for development of Flame Shield®, a wood-plastic composite for building in bushfire areas • Infrastructure and Buildings Award – RMIT University for their Swanston Academic Building: a progressive tertiary learning environment • Environmental Protection Award – Mallee Catchment Management Authority’s project: Restoring the balance in the drought-riven Hattah Lakes • Education Award – Bentleigh Secondary College – a world recognised, very sustainable school • Small and Medium Enterprises Award – Rae-Line for embedding sustainability practices in manufacturing soft trim components for trucks • Large Business Award – Victoria Carpets • Community Award – Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre.

Since May 2013, a new wave of plastic pollution has been uncovered by Melbourne BayKeeper volunteers in the form of ‘nurdles’. Hundreds of these plastic pre-production pellets have been found regularly on St Kilda Beaches, and more recently, in streams flowing into the Bay.

EcoCentre Director and Port Phillip BayKeeper, Neil Blake, will give a talk about this spreading problem and then lead people on a plastic pollution field survey.

We need ongoing support to measure plastic pollution in the Bay. The aim is to clearly show there’s an ongoing issue and to call on government agencies and plastics manufacturers to be part of the solution.

Individuals, businesses, community or government groups who have shown commitment to sustainability are encouraged to enter the Premier’s Sustainability Awards as positive role models for all Victorians. Now in their 11th year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards celebrate efficient use of water, resources and energy, better waste management and recycling practices, the enhancement of the environment and effective, practical community action. The winner of last year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards, Brightgreen, is urging Victorians who have developed a sustainable product or service to enter this year’s awards program, saying “it is a real thrill to be recognised on a state level… We entered the awards last year because they celebrate sustainable innovation – the whole driving force behind Brightgreen. We’re on a mission not just to make the most efficient or the brightest light but to actually change the way people think about lighting – encouraging them to see it as investment rather than something that’s disposable,” said Brightgreen Co-founder and CEO, David O’Driscoll. “The Premier’s Sustainability Awards align perfectly with everything that we set out to achieve.”

CEO of Sustainability Victoria, Stan Krpan, said that the awards are a great way to recognise and celebrate leadership in sustainability. This year the awards provide even more opportunities for recognition. Entries are open in eight categories: Infrastructure and Buildings, Tourism, Environmental Protection, Education, Innovative Product and Services, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Large Business, and Community.

On Sunday 23rd June Sustainable Table are hosting a unique and inspiring event that will teach us all how to grow and cook with Australian native plants. The event will explore why native edibles are an important part of the sustainable food movement.

Warm yourself with bush tea and wattleseed cookies and take a guided educational talk and tour of the CERES native gardens and nursery. You’ll learn about the environmental and health benefits of growing native edibles and get a run-down of what to grow and how to grow it so that you can enjoy our native cuisine in your own home.

Founder of ‘Outback Chef’ Jude Mayall will demonstrate how to cook with native foods. You’ll also learn how to mix fun and creative drinks using native botanicals and hear from the makers, growers and change makers.

You might like to read an interview with Jude on why we should eat native foods here.

Lunch will be served at The Merri Table, prepared by chef Kiran Kilmartin, and matched with Australian-made, botanically-enriched Maidenii Vermouth and West Winds Gin.

Tickets normally cost $110 but for a limited time only you can recieve a 10% discount on bookings of 4 people or more. What the ticket price includes:

Learning from leading international post carbon economy researchers and policy makers

Key messages

1. The probability and risks of global warming of four degrees or more are rapidly increasing. This is, however, an argument for visionary leadership and decisive action – not political paralysis and buck-passing.

2. The technological and economic roadmaps showing the actions we need to take to avoid catastrophic global warming are now widely understood. From Germany to California and from the United Kingdom to China the global momentum for implementation of large scale de-carbonisation strategies is rapidly accelerating.

3. The biggest roadblocks preventing implementation of large-scale de-carbonisation strategies at the speed required to prevent runaway climate change are primarily political not technological. The key roadblocks are:

Climate science denial

The power of the fossil fuel industry and its allies

Political paralysis

Unsustainable consumption of energy and resources

Path dependencies and outdated infrastructure

Financial and governance constraints

4. The key actions needed to overcome these political roadblocks are:

Clear understanding of the necessity and possibility of an emergency speed transition to a just and resilient post-carbon future

Broad recognition of the potentially enormous social and economic benefits of switching investment from fossil fuels to energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon sequestration

Game changing social and technological innovation

Decisive leadership and skilful implementation by communities, business and government at every level of society

The Mount Alexander Shire Council has signed up for a Compost Revolution – your ‘one-stop-shop for composting and wormfarming':

“Composting and wormfarming is easy to do and prevents the wasteful transport of food scraps to landfill where they produce harmful greenhouse gases. You can halve your rubbish and return vital nutrients to the soil to grow your veggies in. You can learn all the basics of composting and wormfaring at our online tutorial, then take the quiz.

After that [if you live in Mt Alexander] you’re eligible for a discounted compost bin or worm farm!

The Compost Revolution is a community initiative that promotes home composting, growing food locally and connecting with your neighbours. Get involved, learn, test yourself and start turning food scraps into healthy soil for growing food.”

Sustainable products on Australian supermarket shelves have more than doubled in the past year. Buying sustainable products means creating a positive impact through the complete life cycle of the product: from the moment the materials are extracted to make the product, to the way these are shipped are assembled, right down to the final packaging, and life after disposal.

Eco living means we care about our impact on our environment. The most effective way to buy eco and sustainable products is to buy those which have been certified for their sustainability credentials. EcoXpo Melbourne, a three-day sustainability expo to be held from the 19th to the 21st of April 2013 at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, goes through a rigorous screening process to ensure that only such products and services are showcased.

Over 150 of Australia’s best eco-friendly exhibitors will be showcasing their wares. There are 9 pavilions at EcoXpo: eco baby, organic food & wines, health, beauty, sustainable fashion, eco building materials, eco gardens, sustainable transport and environmental protection. There will be a range of mouth-watering organic food and wine stalls available to tuck into. Engaging eco living workshops will be held throughout the EcoXpo weekend on sustainable food, recycling, environmental conservation, gardening, eco baby, green living, well-being and much more! There will also be a kids’ zone to keep the little ones entertained.

We encourage green business involved with anything green & eco to be part of EcoXpo: Melbourne (19-21 April 2013), Sydney with Dr. David Suzuki (20-22 September 2013) and Perth (17-20 October 2013).Place: Melbourne Showground, located just 10 minutes from Melbourne’s CBDOpening Times: 10am – 6:00pm

Kids who have an interest in nature, history, animals and the outdoors have the opportunity this Easter holiday (29 March – 14 April) to join a Park Ranger for fun activities. Parks Victoria is putting on its exciting Junior Ranger Program in many parks around Victoria throughout the school holidays including Serendip Sanctuary, Croajingolong National Park, Point Nepean National Park, Werribee Park, Wilsons Promontory National Park, State Coal Mine (Wonthaggi), Dandenong Ranges National Park and the National Rhododendron Gardens (Free Family Fun Day), Great Otway National Park, Mornington Peninsula National Park, Coolart Wetlands and River Red Gum Parks.

Ideal for kids aged 6-12, Parks Victoria’s Junior Rangers holiday program is all about having hands-on fun while learning more about the environment, Victoria’s history and how parks protect native animals and plants. If your child likes exploring forests and beaches with a Park Ranger, or even dressing up in period costume then a Junior Ranger activity is not to be missed. There will be a wealth of activities to choose from to ensure kids are entertained, challenged and inspired by a program that celebrates nature and the great outdoors.

Junior Rangers is all about celebrating nature and encouraging kids to discover more about the environment and the part that parks play in protecting animals, plants and Victoria’s history.

Led by a park ranger, children and their families will have the opportunity to go on a range of activities including:

Quarantine Me – Find out what it was like to be quarantined in the late 1800’s at Point Nepean Quarantine Station.

Bush Detective -Become a bush detective and help the park rangers track the secretive animals in the park. Look for clues that the animals have left behind including tracks, skulls, scats and territorial markings. Keep your eyes open for the furry culprits!

Rockpool Rambles - Join a park ranger to explore a hidden underwater world and discover the creatures that live on our rocky shores.

Play Games of the early 1900’s – Long before computers there were three-legged races, bocce, horse shoe throw, quoits, tunnel races, hoop’n’stick, fill the skip, sack races, hopscotch, skipping races and skittles.

Birdwatching - Learn how to use binoculars and get a close look at some of Victoria’s birds! Take a walk with the park ranger where you’ll learn ‘What bird is that? How do they fly? Where do they nest? What do they eat?’

Water Watch/Mini Beast Discovery – Have fun exploring the park with a park ranger and discover which little beasties make it their home. Dip your nets into the water, see what critters you can find and what part they play in the world of wetlands.

Heritage Days - Celebrate our history by being part of it at Werribee Mansion. Experience the wringer and dolly in the laundry, are you as good as our laundry maid? Play old fashioned games on the lawn and find out who Aunt Sally is. Make some rope with our hand operated contraption and find out how to spin with a spinning wheel. You can chat to experts about our Victorian clothes and try your hand at writing with a slate pen

Craft – Get inspired by the plants and animals in the park and create some cool craft.

Dreamtime Discovery – Spend some time with an Indigenous park ranger. Be inspired by Dreamtime Stories and discover the connection Aboriginals have with Country.

Those taking part are reminded to bring a hat, sunscreen, sturdy footwear and a sense of adventure.

Most activities require a booking and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all sessions. Junior Rangers is not a club; no membership is required to take part. Junior Ranger programs are run mostly during school holidays and on some weekends.

Australia’s largest sustainable living celebration is back with a jam-packed program with more than 300 events over two weeks across Victoria. This year’s diverse program includes delightfully different perspectives bound to challenge, engage and inspire action. As a guide to this ocean of events, we hope this blog post will help you navigate the program better.

Big Weekend: At the heart of the Festival, the Big Weekend program at Federation Square on 15 -17 Feb includes high quality food for thought in The Great Debate, influential thought leaders, such as Annie Leonard behind the widespread online animation The Story of Stuff, and a laughter guarantee at the Steaming Toad Variety Show with HG Nelson and Dan Ilic. By buying a ticket to these key Festival events, curated by the Festival’s operations team itself, you’re supporting the future of this non-profit Festival. Other event highlights of this year’s Big Weekend program we are really excited about bringing to you include Jason Roberts’ Better Block Keynote, The World’s Biggest Organic Feast hosted by ABC TV’s Costa Georgiadis, the Fix it! Workshop. While forums, talks and interactives like The Heat is On, Activating Community Energy, Playing God with the Planet, Green Inventors, The Gratitude Box and No Place like Homelands are sure to inspire and educate. Over the Big Weekend, Birrarung Marr and River Promenade are transformed into a bustling mini-village, complete with The Green Market and Bikefest Treadlie Market. In the weekend’s open community program stream, there’s a multitude of exhibitions, forums, kids activities, performances and workshops to discover.

Melbourne CBD: The second layer of the Festival takes place across Melbourne’s CBD, as the city comes to life with events throughout 9 – 24 Feb. This year, the Sustainable Living Festival, together with City of Melbourne and CrowdSpot, are launching My EcoCity Map, a collaborative online map for residents and visitors to capture and share sustainable projects, events, shops and organisations in the city. Check out the map and add you own favourite EcoCity spots! As part of the Festival’s film program, the Transition Film Festival kicks off on 15 Feb and runs til 24 Feb with solutions focused movies at several cinemas across town. Sign up to be part of the nationwide synchronised screening of Transition 2.0, a movie that tells an inspiring story of Transition Towns initiatives from around the world.

Statewide: In the second week of the statewide Festival program, the Festival’s first ever regional Victorian tour program – The Better Block Tour – heads out to regional locations (18 – 24 Feb) to help kickstart a revitalization of neighborhoods and communities across Victoria by inspiring, connecting and supporting local changemakers. Across the State of Victoria, there are a huge range of events taking place, feeding conversations and generating new ideas on how you can find and create your own ‘state of sustainability’!